Folding bed-bottom



(No Model.)

0. S. POSTER.

FOLDING BED BOTTOM.

No. 366,718. Patented July 19,1887.

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N. PETERS. Phola-LlI-Mgriphcl. Washington. D. C.

I ATENT tries.

OSCAR S. FOSTER, OF UTICA, NE? YORK.

FOLDINGBED-BOTTO IVl.

F3PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 366,718, dated July 19, 1887.

A ppliealion filcdNovembrr 23, 1886. Serial No. 210,655). (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR S. FOSTER, of Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Folding Bed-Bottoms; and I do hereby declare the lollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in folding bed-bottoms.

The object is to provide a light, cheap, and convenient bed-bottom which may be quickly and easily folded.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View ofmy improved bed-bottom. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is an end view, and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the bed-bottom folded.

A A represent, respectively, the outer and innerlongitudinal bars of the bed-bottom, supported or not, as desired, on suitable folding legs, H, and extending parallel with each other, forming the longitudinal main support of the bed. Theinner bars, A, preferably extend side by side approximately through the transverse center of the bed-bottom. These bars are separated suitably to forma desirable width to the bed, furnish strength, and admit of the bedbottom being formed in sections. Blocks B are rigidly secured on the upper faces of each end of the bars A A, upon which the transverse end bars, 0 G, are secured, extending half the width of the bed, or from bar A to bar A, the blocks being of sufficient thickness to elevate the tops of the transverse end bars, 0 O, considerably above the plane of the longitudinal bars A A. The bars O are loosely secured to the bars A A by pins 0, extending through the transversely-elongated slots (1, and their position is shifted by the adj listingscrews 6, the object of which is to take up any slack formed in the wire fabric after continuous use.

From the construction thus far disclosed it will be seen that the bed-bottom consists of two similar sections, and these I hinge together, so that when open the parts will take the position described,with the bars A ex teudin g through or approxi matel y through the transverse center. Any style of hinge F may be employed to connect the sections, though an ordinary strap or butt hinge is preferable.

Other means may be employed for preventing any sagging in the wire fabrie-as, for example, a set of transversely-located supporting-slats, I), provided each with a series of cone spiral springs, E, loosely joined by links 71, may be mounted in the bars A A, in such position on the latter as to allow the top of the springs E to fall about in the plane of the up per faces of the end bars, CO. \Vire fabric G is secured to the end bars, 0 O, and both the means described-that is, the adj Listing-screws e and re-cnforeing spiral springs E-may be used together to prevent any sagging of the wire fabric, though I generally prefer to employ but one of these means at a time.

The wire fabric G may be woven in any wellknown form, and it preferably consists of a continuous piece provided with openings 9, a little longer than the hinges F, located in a position to correspond with the said hinges. These openings 9 are gathered at the ends of the hinge, allowing the free action of the hinges and also the fabric to fold freely without being injuriously bent.

By means of the construction described not only is great strength attained and warping of the frame rendered less liable, but also convenience in storing and shipping, because of its occupying so little space when folded, and, owing to the simplicity and strength of the parts composing my bed-bottom, there is little liability of its becoming broken or otherwise injured for use. By forming the bed-bottom in sections expense is saved in the use of ma terial, as many of the parts composing it are small and may be cut out of small stuff.

I am aware that it is old to provide a frame consisting of parallel bars connected by crossbars, the latter being in two parts, hinged together at their centers; also, that it is old to tighten the woven fabric forming a bed-bottom by screws, and hence I make no claim, broadly, to these parts separately considered.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself to the particular construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. In afoldingbed-bottom, the combination,

- with a set of parallel main supportingbars,

the end cross-bars, each made in two sections hinged together and each having slotted ends,

cured to theends of said supporting-bars, the end cross bars, each made in two sections hinged together and each having slotted ends, bolts passing through the slotted ends of the cross-bars and into the blocks, a woven-wire fabric secu red to the end cross-bars, means for yieldingly re-enforcing or supporting the wire fabric at or near the center of same, and adjusting-screws for shifting the end bars of the bed laterally for regulating the tension of the woven-wire fabric, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR s. Fosrna.

Witnesses:

Y- L. N. SOUTHWORTH,

HERBERT D. IITOHER. 

